Killer Biscotti

[OldBaldGuy]

Now that we're down to just one week before Christmas, I couldn't put it off any longer. Today's the day for my annual challenge to dental science. (Sorry, Aquaman!) I started making Christmas biscotti for some co-workers a few years ago, and now they expect it every year. The first batch -- a variation using Amaretto -- is cooling on the counter now, and the second batch -- just my plain Killer Biscotti -- is 12 minutes away from the end of it's first baking. (The "bi" in biscotti means it's baked twice.)

Anyone else have a Christmas cookie tradition?

[GenericAngler]

Roger has the unfair advantage of being one of the original creators of hardtack. How could you compete with that?

[Slimdog]

Originally Posted by OldBaldGuy

Anyone else have a Christmas cookie tradition?

I make them disappear!

Seriously though, my sister makes sugar cookies from scratch that I am willing to kill for. The recipe was passed down from a great-grandma. They take her 3-4 days to make.

Ummmmmm...cookies.

Slim

[DiggerDog]

Originally Posted by OldBaldGuy

Now that we're down to just one week before Christmas, I couldn't put it off any longer. Today's the day for my annual challenge to dental science. (Sorry, Aquaman!) I started making Christmas biscotti for some co-workers a few years ago, and now they expect it every year. The first batch -- a variation using Amaretto -- is cooling on the counter now, and the second batch -- just my plain Killer Biscotti -- is 12 minutes away from the end of it's first baking. (The "bi" in biscotti means it's baked twice.)

Anyone else have a Christmas cookie tradition?

Do you have the recipes you could share with us?

[LEAD FREE]

The wife makes sugar cookies (store bought) and the kids and I spend the afternoon decorating and eating them. Another thing we do is make grahm cracker houses. Nothing to fancy just a time to spend time with the family.

[OldBaldGuy]

Originally Posted by DiggerDog

Do you have the recipes you could share with us?

You bet.

OBG’s Killer Biscotti

Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees

In medium bowl #1, sift together:
2 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon baking soda

In larger bowl #2, beat with electric mixer at high speed...
3 large eggs
7/8th cup sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon anise extract
...until thick and light colored, about 5 minutes.

On low speed, mix in dry ingredients from bowl #1 until just incorporated. By hand, add
1-1/4 cup whole almonds (or mix of whole and sliced almonds), and
2 tablespoons anise seeds.
Blend until evenly combined. The resulting dough is incredibly sticky. You’ll want to use a sturdy spatula and spoon for the next steps, but DO NOT flour your hands, the table, or the loaf as you would baking bread:

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and form the dough into a 4” x 16” flattened log, about ¾” thick.

Bake at 300 degrees until golden brown, about one hour.

Turn down oven to 275, let loaf cool for ten minutes, then, using a serrated knife or electric knife (better), cut loaf crosswise into 3/8” slices. Separate the upright slices into a herring-bone pattern (left ends of odd numbered slices supporting right ends of even-numbered slices) so almost all of each slice is exposed to air. Bake at 275 degrees an additional 25 minutes.

Cool on a wire rack. Store in airtight container for two weeks or more, if it lasts that long.

[barmandr]

Our tradition is rosettes. making them today.

[wildernesswomen]

and ours......Homemade Kaluha & Peppermint schneppsssss &
krumkeke & Norwegian tea rings.
One year we made 50 tea rings, that was enough.
Still make a few.

Still brew 50 bottles.........



Enjoy the Holidays............
peace

[OldBaldGuy]

Originally Posted by wildernesswomen

and ours......Homemade Kaluha & Peppermint schneppsssss &
krumkeke & Norwegian tea rings.
One year we made 50 tea rings, that was enough.
Still make a few.

Still brew 50 bottles.........



Enjoy the Holidays............
peace

I'm not familiar with any of those. Care to share some pictures and recipes, ww?

[Hookem]

My wife, Barb, is the third generation on her side of family to make Feuden. Feuden is a German word for fritters (similar to a donut). They are dipped in sugar. The recipe is a family secret and now one daughter on the East Coast also continues the tradition. Barb gives them to friends and other family members during this time of the year. They are absolutely delicious!

She also is the third generation to make what she calls Rock Candy in over 40 flavors. Any number of flavors are available yet she concentrates on 40 flavors or so. When finished each piece looks similar to cut glass in varied colors according to the flavor. One daughter and now even two grandchildren are into making this Christmas candy;thus the two grandchildren will make the fifth generation. The process is tedious and takes hours. All boiled ingredients are poured on a marble slab and cut into pillow shape small pieces.

She frequently gives the candy in neatly wrapped containers to friends and family as gifts of appreciation. The Feuden and Rock candy have been two of her favorite activities during the holiday season. To date nearly all the candy has been given to others. We still have a container of some candy remaining for friends as they stop by over the holiday. The Feuden though goes almost immediately! Her cousin stopped by last night to see if any were left!!

[MrGadget]

Hot rum Tom and Jerry's... Yeah Buddy! Gadget

[Semper Venatio]

I'm new and thought I'd fire up this post again because Christmas is just around the corner. In my house we make a killer poppy seed roll around the holidays, as well as my dads famous bloody mary's on Christmas morning.